basic bidding strategies

holding these cards in your hand is generally good for at least one point

When bidding, please keep the 2nd commandment of Euchre in mind, "Thou shalt counteth upon thy partner for one trick." When you are evaluating your hand, you are deciding, "Can I take 2 tricks?"

Note: This is only basic bidding strategy. As you become more experienced, you will find other bids that are riskier and work for you as well. The score can make a big difference in when you bid and how you play. You will get euchred with these bids from time to time; however, you are more likely to make your bid.

Some Terminology Used:

Seats: (position of each player.) The person sitting across from you is your partner.

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2nd Seat

1st Seat3rd Seat

(Eldest Hand) (Pone)

Dealer

(4th Seat)

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1st Seat is to the LEFT of the dealer and is his opponent. 1st seat is also referred to as the "Eldest hand."

2nd Seat is across from the dealer and is his partner.

3rd Seat is to the RIGHT of the dealer and is his opponent. 3rd seat is also referred to as the "Pone."

4th Seat (the dealer) is 2nd seat's partner.

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First Round of Bidding - when the up-card is offered as the trump suit. The up-card is offered first to the player to the LEFT of the dealer - if he declines to order it up, the card is offered to the next player and so on. If the up-card is ordered up it goes to the dealer and he discards one card. If no one orders up the card the 2nd round of bidding begins.

Loner - same thing as "Going Alone.' - "opting to play without your partner on a particular hand." **see endnote #1.

Next - the other suit of the SAME color as trump. ie: If CLUBS are trump then the "next" suit is SPADES.

Next (Bid) - is made in the 2nd round of bidding. A "next" bid is declaring the trump suit to be the SAME color as the former up-card that everyone declined to order up in the 1st round of bidding. ie: If the former up-card was a HEART then the "next" bid would be DIAMONDS. It is recommended that a "next" bid be made from 1st seat or 3rd seat.

Order up - declaring the trump suit.

Second Round of Bidding - begins when the up-card is declined as trump by everyone in the 1st round of bidding. Starting with the player to the LEFT of the dealer, players are asked to declare the trump suit. If the 1st player declines to declare the trump suit, the next player is asked to declare and so on. Any suit may be named trump except for the suit of the former up-card. The dealer does NOT discard a card in this round.

Side Ace - any ace that is not in the trump suit.

Two-suited - a hand consisting of two suits only.

Up-card (or Turn-card) - the top card from the kitty which has been turned face up. The up-card is offered as the trump suit in the 1st round of bidding.

Void - having no cards in a particular suit.

Regardless of who's the dealer, order up the card or suit when you hold (or will hold after your order up) any of the following hands:

any FIVE trump (even the lowest five ie: 9, 10, Q, K, A) *you should strongly consider a loner bid especially if you are the dealer. **see endnote #2.

any FOUR trump (even the lowest four ie: 9, 10, Q, K) *you should strongly consider a loner bid especially if you are the dealer. Having a side ace increases your chance of a successful loner. **see endnote #3.

THREE trump when:

one is a bower

side ace OR void in one suit

any THREE trump when: (even the lowest three ie: 9, 10, Q)

side ace

void in one suit

do not do if you are ordering up to your opponents

any THREE trump when: (even the lowest three ie: 9, 10, Q)

two-suited

do not do if you are ordering up to your opponents unless you have a bower

TWO trump when:

one is a bower

side ace

void in one suit

do not do if you are ordering up to your opponents

"Next" Bid - is made in the 2nd round of bidding. A "next" bid is declaring the trump suit to be the SAME color as the former up-card that everyone declined to order up in the 1st round of bidding. ie: If the former up-card was a HEART then the "next" bid would be DIAMONDS. It is recommended that a "next" bid be made from 1st seat or 3rd seat. **see endnote #4. Bid "next" when you have:

any THREE or more trump in the "next" suit

any TWO or more trump in "next" with ONE side ace

any ONE or more trump in "next" with TWO side aces

ZERO trump in "next" with THREE side aces

Advanced Strategy: the K-9 Kicker. This is a bid made in the 2nd round of bidding. **see endnote #5. Order up the trump suit when you meet these requirements:

you are sitting in 2nd seat. (the dealer's partner)

your King and 9 are the OPPOSITE color of the former up-card and will become the trump suit

you must hold a MINIMUM of a King and 9 in the trump suit. (ie: an Ace and Queen is fine)